Trying to record audio from Roland RD-2000 keyboard

[geoffeth]

Hi
Using Audacity 2.4.2
Mac Big Sur 11.2.1
I am trying to record Audio from my Roland RD-2000 stage piano into Audacity, however it is not picking up any input despite setting the audio inputs to the RD-2000. I tried Garage Band which recognises the input but only allows the prerecorded sounds which makes me suspect that the program is only picking up a MIDI rather than an Audio input.
Can anyone help?
Thanks

[kozikowski]

Onboard 24-bit/192kHz USB audio/MIDI Interface

That's from the instructions. How do you switch back and forth between MIDI and audio data stream? Or are they both there at once...? I switch my keyboard between the MIDI USB connection for production and the Headphone connection for actual sound recording.

https://www.kozco.com/tech/organfinale.mp3

Koz

[kozikowski]

only picking up a MIDI rather than an Audio input.

You know MIDI isn't sound, right? MIDI is a series of instructions. MIDI has to play something and then you record the something.

In the case of the computer, you get the MIDI to play the operating system's built-in instruments and then tell Audacity to record Sound Playing On The Computer.

I'd want to find where your odd recordings are coming from. That might tell you a lot about what's happening.

This is billed as a performance keyboard. How do you connect it on stage? The audience can't hear MIDI instructions and there is no computer.

Koz

[jademan]

Hi
Using Audacity 2.4.2
Mac Big Sur 11.2.1
I am trying to record Audio from my Roland RD-2000 stage piano into Audacity, however it is not picking up any input despite setting the audio inputs to the RD-2000. I tried Garage Band which recognises the input but only allows the prerecorded sounds which makes me suspect that the program is only picking up a MIDI rather than an Audio input.
Can anyone help?
Thanks

OK, I looked up this issue in the RD-2000 manual and I believe I have a clear answer for you. The USB issue is a little confusing, so bear with me.

There are three (3) USB ports on the RD-2000: One USB port is used for updates. There is a USB cap over this port to prevent its accidental use. A second USB port is used for recording to a USB flash drive. You could record your performance to the flash drive, then read it back into your computer, for example. The third USB port is used for *both* MIDI and audio.

From the Roland manual page 18:

USB driver settings
Here’s how to specify the USB driver that’s used when connecting the
RD-2000 to your computer via the USB COMPUTER port.
1. In the MENU screen, select “SYSTEM” and press the [ENTER] button.
2. Set the “USB Driver” parameter to:
VENDER - Choose this if you want to use a USB driver
downloaded from the Roland website.
GENERIC -Choose this if you want to use the standard USB
driver that was included with your computer - *Only MIDI is available.
3. Save the setting. => “Saving the system settings” (p. 26)
4. Turn the power of the RD-2000 off, then on again.

My take on the asterisk is that the keyboard is not shipped with USB-audio support, and that you must download a "VENDOR" USB driver for real-time USB-audio.

On the Roland site, there are drivers for Windows and for MacOS 10.13/14/15 and 11. The installation instructions for these drivers specify 'To use this driver, you must set the USB Driver of the RD-2000 to "VENDER."' So I am thinking that they will, indeed, give you the real-time USB audio you are looking for.

I hope this helps. Let us know how it goes - others want to know.